In foods, carrot roots can be eaten raw, boiled, fried, or steamed. Carrot root can be eaten alone or added to cakes, puddings, jams, or preserves. Carrot root can also be prepared as a juice. Carrot leaves can be eaten raw or cooked.

Possibly Effective for...

Vitamin A deficiency. Some early research shows that eating carrot jam for 10 weeks improves growth rate in children with vitamin A deficiency. Other early research shows that eating grated carrot for 60 days improves vitamin A levels in some pregnant women who are at risk for not having enough vitamin A.

Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...

Diarrhea. Early research shows that giving a rehydration solution containing carrot and rice to infants and children with diarrhea helps shorten the length of time diarrhea is experienced.

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of carrot for these uses.

How does Carrot work?

Carrot contains a chemical called beta-carotene. Beta-carotene might act as an antioxidant. Carrot also contains dietary fiber, which might improve stomach and intestine conditions such as diarrhea or constipation.

Are there safety concerns?

Carrot is LIKELY SAFE when eaten as a food. It is not clear if carrot is safe when used as a medicine.

Carrot might cause skin yellowing if eaten in large amounts. It might cause tooth decay if consumed in large quantities as a juice.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: It's LIKELY SAFE to eat carrot as a food if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. However, not enough is known about the use of carrot as medicine during pregnancy and breast-feeding.

Children: It's LIKELY SAFE to eat carrot in normal food amounts. It is POSSIBLY UNSAFE to give large amounts of carrot juice to infants and young children. Large amounts of carrot juice might cause the skin to yellow and the teeth to decay.

Allergy to celery and related plants: Carrot may cause an allergic reaction in people who are allergic to birch, mugwort, spices, celery, and related plants. This has been called the “celery-carrot-mugwort-spice syndrome.”

Diabetes: Carrot might lower blood sugar levels. This could interfere with medications used for diabetes and cause blood sugar levels to go to low. If you have diabetes and use a large amount of carrots, monitor your blood sugar closely.

Dosing considerations for Carrot.

The following doses have been studied in scientific research in adults:

BY MOUTH:

For vitamin A deficiency: eating 100 grams of grated carrots daily for 60 days has been used.

The following doses have been studied in scientific research in children:

BY MOUTH:

For vitamin A deficiency: eating one spoonful of carrot jam daily for 10 weeks has been used.

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).

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You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.